After some time of searching deep, going through the layers of the Guardian power and my magic abilities, something filtered through. It was like nothing I’d ever felt before and was foreign to me. A sense of power coursed through my blood. It wasn’t an element or energy per se. It was light.
That’s exactly what it felt like, a strong beam of light that glowed bright within me and not like a happy light—the heaven above kind of light—just pure power.
Definitely something strong and real, but what exactly? I wasn’t sure what the source was or why it was there. I definitely would have a hard time describing it to Azar. If it wasn’t my Guardian power, or the elemental based magic, just what the heck was it?
Just as I pondered that, something caught my attention and had nothing to do with this power inside of me. A pull grabbed hold of me, yanked me forward, and even though my eyes were closed, they drifted over to Haven. Her outline glowed before me.
A shimmering white light surrounded her body, but centered low in her belly was a blue glittering glow. Warmth and happiness shot straight through me.
My eyes snapped open. “You’re pregnant.”
Azar gasped. “I’m what?”
I laughed, as did everyone else. “Not you, silly.” Then, I glanced at Haven. “You.” I pointed right at her stomach. “You’re pregnant.”
My hand twitched to smack myself in the head. How had I not seen it with Finn’s extra protectiveness? I felt abashed that I hadn’t noticed all the little signs. The pickiness over food, the glow in Haven’s eyes, and the way she kept touching her stomach. It just never occurred to me.
Haven’s eyes went wide the moment I said it. “Gosh, thanks for the letting the cat out of the bag.”
“Oops.” I put my hand over my mouth and said beneath it, “Sorry. It just…er…spilled out.”
She gave me a forgiving grin and the feeling rushed right through me. She was happy that I knew.
Azar interrupted our little blissful moment. “What did you feel?”
“Not now.” I waved him off and trotted over to Haven. “You’re really pregnant?” I glanced between her and Finn.
Finn nodded and smiled brilliantly.
“We are.” Haven answered, patting her stomach.
“Holy cannoli!” I glanced at Kyden, who was alight with happiness. “That’s so exciting.” Then a thought struck me. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
Haven shrugged. “I didn’t want to jinx it. I was waiting until I passed the two week mark, just in case.”
The two week mark?
Kyden stepped in next to me, obviously read my confusion. “Supernatural younglings are born within four months. The chance of a miscarriage usually happens within the first two weeks.”
“Oh.” I glanced at Haven, took her in my arms and hugged her tight. “I’m so happy for you guys. I didn’t even know you were trying.”
Haven hugged me back, sank right into me, and I felt the warmth of her hug. “We decided a little while ago and had Zia release the magic on Finn.”
Zia was the Otherworld’s birth control pill. A little magic went a long way. As Haven admitted that, a tinge of annoyance hit me. “Why would you not tell me this? We never kept secrets.”
Haven’s smile turned into a frown as she leaned in and whispered. “You’ve been through so much this past little while. It seemed so tiny in comparison.”
“This,” I stepped closer to her and placed my hand on her stomach. “Is huge, Haven. Promise me, you’ll never keep something like this from me again.”
She nodded in earnest. “Okay, I promise.”
My heart sank a little. It royally sucked ass that Haven felt she couldn’t tell me her happy news because my life is so chaotic. That something this important didn’t compare—didn’t matter. I gulped back the yucky feeling, desperate not to ruin this moment. I reached out to Finn and hugged him. “Ahh…you guys are going to have the cutest youngling ever.”
Finn chuckled in my ear. “Let’s hope so.”
“Of course we will.” Haven smacked his arm after I released him. “She’ll be the cutest.”
“She?” Finn asked with raised brows.
“Just a feelin’.” Haven smiled.
Azar cleared his throat, drew my gaze back to his. “How did you know she was pregnant?”
“It was kinda like a pull. As if I needed to look at her, and when I did, a bluish light glowed around her belly. I don’t know.” I shrugged, mildly embarrassed at his awed look. “I just knew.”
“I hate to interrupt, Nexi, but did you discover anything?” Misa looked to Azar as well. “We need to hear if you discovered anything else. Time is pressing.”
Oh, right, I’d totally forgotten about the whole search within yourself bit. “I definitely feel something I never did before. It feels kinda like…well…a source of power, but I have no idea what it’s from. It doesn’t feel like the Guardian power or the elements, it just feels different. Does that make any sense?”
Azar nodded, then took my hand. “Does it feel like this?” With his touch came a wave of darkness to slither through my blood.
I snapped my hand away and growled at him. “Yuck, no.”
Azar’s gaze was hard as he studied me. “So, it isn’t the Guardian power or White Magic. It has nothing to do with Black Magic.”
Zia’s gaze mirrored Azar’s. “So what is it then?”
After a long period of silence and the examining looks started to get on my nerves, I’d had enough. “It’s me! That’s what it is.”
Zia smiled softly and kissed my cheek. “Yes, Sweetie, it is you.”
Azar turned to Quinney, gestured toward the book she held in her hands. “Leave the Diabolus Somes with her. Let her read it.”
Quinney began to approach me, but I adamantly held my hands up. “I don’t want that thing.”
“You’re the best person to read this,” Azar said. “Study the runes. See if any of them call to you or make any sense to you.”
Quinney placed the book in my shaky hands but I held it away from my body. “We need to discover a rune to banish Mammon back to the Realm of the Dead and quickly. The longer he is on Earth, the more strength he will gain. We cannot allow this. If we do, he’ll begin to do these rituals himself.” She looked desolate. “This is not something we want to happen.”
“Yeah, no shit,” I managed.
“There are many unmarked runes in the Diabolus Somes. Ones that have been drawn, but unclaimed,” Tyde said. “By the look of them, they appear to be White Magic based, but their purpose is unknown. Kyden can translate the Latin if need be.”
“Keep an open mind,” Azar added. “Let the runes speak to you. I believe the right rune you need will show itself to you.”
I snorted. “You all seem so sure of that, but I just hope your trust isn’t misplaced.”
“It isn’t,” they all said in unison.
Chapter Ten
Back in the Otherworld, we’d said goodbye to the others and walked Finn and Haven home to the Witches House. After another round of congratulations and hugs, they went inside. Kyden and I made our way to Sabi’s.
Just a few doors down, I read Sabi written in calligraphy on her door. I’d always been grateful for the mark of names on doors or I’d never find anyone in this place.
At her door, I turned to Kyden. “I just hope she doesn’t mind.” Moving into our place for a little while probably wasn’t on her to do list.
“It’s her duty.” Kyden gave a hard knock on the door.
A moment later, Sabi answered and looked a little disheveled. Her long dark hair was a complete mess, her cheeks flushed, and her amber eyes, with cat-like pupils were a little wide. “What is wrong?” Her tone was urgent.
“Er…” I laughed nervously. “Are we interrupting you?”
She blushed and opened the door a little wider. Ryker appeared wearing nothing but a towel.
My eyes widened. When did they get together? I hadn’t heard they were a couple, or even held the slightest bit of interest in each other. This little revelation surprised me.
Ryker cleared this throat, tucked the towel in tight around his lower half. “What’s going on?”
“We must talk with Sabi,” Kyden answered. “Is it all right if we come in?”
“Of course,” Sabi replied, looking down her body. “Just give me some time to…ahhh…”
“Pull yourself together,” I finished for her.
She giggled and nodded. “Be right back.”
As they headed off to the bedroom, Kyden and I sat down on the sofa. Sabi’s place was a Japanese marvel. Gray slate walls, gigantic painting of dragons on the wall, with low black couches. The look wasn’t my taste, but it was still nice nonetheless.
Less than a minute later, Sabi joined us, looking much more appropriate for guests. “Sorry about that.” She sat down in the couch next to us.